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Stop the Week: Winner's dinners

A direct line to misery  opening your own restaurant

I’ve never understood people who think it amusing to have a restaurant on the side. I’d find it horrible to worry about staff, food and ridiculous customers like me.

A man I greatly admire is Peter Wood, the founder of Direct Line insurance and now the boss of esure and First Alternative. Peter sensibly uses me to sell his policies on television. Even he’s not immune to “I must have a restaurant” madness.

He opened one near his offices in Reigate called Tony Tobin @ The Dining Room. He’s partnered by a pleasant chef called, believe it or not, Tony Tobin.

The food is good. Recently the spaghetti starter was excellent, the steak middle-bit was fine and the pud — I’ve forgotten what it was — not only looked pretty, but tasted terrific.

Tony has opened a new upstairs bar which he told me was meant to be secret. What’s the point of